Self-aligning car journal lubricator



July 27, 1954 A. MIKLOS 2,684,880

SELF-ALIGNING CAR JOURNAL LUBRICATOR Filed Feb. '7, 1952 F521. 1 2 F/EzZ.

$2 2672 for; Mlelander flz'ilos Patented July 27, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SELF-ALIGNING CAR JOURNAL LUBRICATOR 6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in journal lubricators for railroad cars and refers particularly to a lubricator for car journals which is reliable and efiicient as a lubricator and which may be conveniently adapted to journal boxes of existing cars having presently used lubricating expedients.

At the present time car journals are usually lubricated by oil carried in the journal box, the oil being transferred to the journal by means of cotton waste. In employing waste as the capillary agent for the oil in the manner presently practiced, the waste tends to get soggy and drops away from the journal, sags or becomes disintegrated and the journal may not be properly lubricated resulting in the more or less commonly encountered hot box.

It has heretofore been proposed to employ expedients which would supplant the conventional Waste method of lubrication, but in substantially all instances the devices have required special journal boxes or required such alteration and/ or added equipment to existing journal boxes that they are impractical.

One of the features of the present invention resides in its ready adaptation to conventional journal boxes, indeed, the only alteration of the conventional journal box consists in the boring of two holes in the walls of the box. The added equipment is simple and easily installed and removed.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawing and following detailed description.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a sectional view through a conventional journal box, showing the improved lubricator therein.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the journal bar of Fig. 1 taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed perspective view of one of the lubricator units.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed perspective view of one of the clamps for holding the absorbent Referring in detail to the drawing, I indicates a journal box for a railroad car into which the journal portion 2 of a car wheel axle extends. The journal box I is of conventional construction, as is also the journal 2, the usual bearing brass and wedge block not being shown. As is conventional, the journal box I is provided with an opening 3 normally closed by the usual hinged door (not shown).

As a feature of the present invention a lubricator mechanism i is positioned in the journal box to apply lubricating oil 5 carried at the bottom of the box to the surface of the journal 2. The mechanism 4 comprises essentially one or more lubricating units 6 carried by a hanger rod 1.

The lubricator mechanism 4 may be employed with the well known conventional journal boxes with a minimum of alteration of the box. Actually, the only change to be made in the conventional journal box involves the boring of two holes 8 and 9, respectively, in the rear wall I0 and a side wall I I of the journal box I. The bore 8 is adapted to receive a bolt I2, shown in detail in Fig. 5, which may be firmly secured in place by nuts I3 and I4 engageable with the threads of the bolt. The inner end of the bolt, that is, that end which is positioned 'within the journal box I is formed to provide a socket I5 having radially spaced fingers I6 adapted to engage a ball I! carried at one end and formed integral with hanger rod 1, the arrangement being such that the rod I may be rotated about its axis and may be swung about the ball IT as a center.

The bore 9 is adapted to receive a stud I8, shown in detail in Fig. 6, the stud carrying an anchor block I9 positioned within the journal box 2, the stud being firmly secured to wall II by means of nut 20. The block I9 is provided with a rectangular sectioned recess 2I which opens to one face of the block, being adapted to receive an end portion 22 of the hanger rod 1. The rod I including the end portion 22 thereof is of rectangular cross-section, and is preferably square, whereby when the end portion 22 thereof is positioned in recess 2I the rod is prevented from being rotated about its axis. 7

Opposite faces of the rod I adjacent the end portion 22 are provided with longitudinal grooves 23, and an aperture 24 is provided in a portion of block I9 to receive a ball 25 pressed by spring 26, said spring being confined in aperture 24 by means of set screw 21. The arrangement is such that the end portion 22 of rod I may be resiliently locked in recess 2| by the engagement of the spring-pressed ball and one of the grooves 23. Of course, if desired, a groove may be provided in each face of the rod 1 whereby said rod may be desirably positioned throughout any one of four ninety degree positions.

Thus by the provision of only two holes in the conventional journal box I the rod 1 which supports the lubricator units 6 may be mounted within the journal box, the rod being so mounted as to be rotatable and swingable about one end and being resiliently anchorable against rotatable or swingable movement at the opposite end.

As has been hereinbefore described, one or more lubricator units 6 may be carried upon rod 1 within the journal box I. All of the lubricator units are the same and each comprises a sleeve portion 23 constructed of relatively rigid metal and provided with a rectangular opening 29, the opening being such that the sleeve may be slidably moved along rod 1 but is immovable rotationally with respect to said rod. Secured to sleeve 28 is an arcuate shaped blade or leaf spring supporting arm 35?, said arm being constructed of a resilient spring material. The spring supporting arm 30 may be secured to the sleeve 28 by rivets 3| or any other convenient means of attachment. At the opposite end arm 30 is looped upon itself to form a tubular bead (not shown) adapted to receive a pin 32.

A pad holder 33 is adapted to be carried at the beaded end of arm 38, said holder having spaced outwardly extending apertured lugs 34, adapted for pivotal engagement with pin 32. Gripping teeth 35 are carried by the holder 33 which are adapted to bite into and secure a lubricator pad 35.

The pad 36 is constructed of an absorbent fibrous material, preferably soft felt and may have one face formed as an arcuate surface 31 conformable in curvature to the curvature of the journal 2. A tail or wick portion 38 is formed integral with the arcuate portion of the pad and extends generally angularly away from said arcuate surface.

When the unit 6 is positioned upon rod '1 within the journal box, the arcuate face of the pad 36 is brought into substantially conformable contact with the journal 2. The rod l is disposed laterally from the journal and the arcuate spring arm 38 will support the pad holder 33 from beneath. To engage or disengage the sleeve 28 from rod 5, the end portion 22 is disengaged from recess 2| in block is and the rod 1 may be angled upwardly about the ball and socket so that an end of the rod points generally toward opening 3. The sleeve 28 may then be slid onto or removed from the rod by an operator whose hands may work conveniently in opening 3. When surface 3"! is brought into contact with the face of the journal, rod 7 may be rotated about the ball and socket joint until the end 22 may be moved into recess 2!. The arrangement is such that in positioning the end portion 22 in the recess 2! tension is imported to the spring arm Bil to resiliently urge the face 3'1 into pressure contact with the journal face. When the pad is in this position the tail or wick 38 extends downwardly into the body of oil 5, extending into a sump 39 normally provided at the bottom of the journal box.

If desired, the swivelled end of the rod 1 may be carried by socket 40 provided at the end of a right-angle bolt M which may permit securement, by means of nuts 42, upon a side wall of the journal box, such as wall H, instead of securing the swivelled end upon wall it. When the rod is secured in this fashion the remaining parts are related to each other and to the swivel in the manner as has been hereinbefore described. The type of swivel illustrated in Fig. 5 is particularly adaptable to most passenger car journal boxes and the type shown in Fig. 8 would be adaptable to most freight car journal boxes. However, it is not intended that my invention be thus limited since either type may be used where found most suitable.

If desired, tubular spacers (not shown) may be slidably mounted upon the rod 1 to maintain the units a predetermined distance from each other along the length of the rod. However, it may be desired to have the units free to slide upon the rod 7 during operation whereby all portions of the journal will be periodically wiped by the pads 36.

I claim as my invention:

1. A lubricating device for a railroad car journal of the type wherein the journal extends into a 'journal box in the bottom of which a body of lubricating oil is carried, said lubricating device comprising a supporting rod for positioning in said journal box, a swingable connection carried at one end of said rod for swingably connecting said end of the rod and a wall of the journal box, a resilient arm slidably but non-rotatably carried by said rod, absorbent pad means carried by said arm and held by said arm for making resilient contact with the face of the journal, a tail portion upon said pad for extending into said oil body for transferring by capillarity oil from said oil body to said journal face, and means adapted to be carried by another wall of the journal box for removably locking the opposite end of said rod against swingable movement about said swingable connection.

2. A lubricating device for a railroad car journal of the type wherein the journal extends into a journal box in the bottom of which a body of lubricating oil is carried, said lubricating device comprising a supporting rod for positioning in said journal box, a swingable connection for connecting one end of said rod and a wall of the journal box, a resilient arm slidably but nonrotatably carried by said rod, absorbent pad means carried by said arm for holding said arm in resilient contact with the face of the journal, a tail portion upon said pad for extending into said oil body for transferring by capillarity oil from said oil body to said journal face, and means adapted to be carried by a wall of the journal box for removably locking the opposite end of said rod against swingable movement about said swingable connection and for holding the rod substantially parallel to the axis of the journal and spaced from the curved face of said journal.

3. A car journal lubricator, comprising a supporting rod adapted for disposition in a journal box, a swingable and rotatable connection for connecting one end of said rod and an inner wall of the journal box, a resilient arm slidably but non-rotatably carried by said rod, absorbent pad means having an arcuate journal-contacting face for conformation with the arcuate face of a car journal, said absorbent pad being pivotally carried by said arm and adapted to be held by said arm in resilient contact with the face of the journal, a tail portion upon said pad for extending into an oil body carried in the journal for transferring by capillarity oil from said oil body to said journal face, and means securable to a wall of the journal box for removably locking the opposite end of said rod against rotatable and swingable movement about said swingable and rotatable connection.

4. A car journal lubricator, comprising a supporting rod adapted for disposition in a journal box, a swingable and rotatable joint for swingably and rotatably connecting one end of said rod and an inner wall of the journal box, a resilient arm slidably but non-rotatably carried by said rod, absorbent pad means having an arcuate journal-contacting face for conformation with the arcuate face of a journal, said absorbent pad being pivotally carried by said arm and adapted to be held by said arm in resilient contact with the face of the journal, a tail portion upon said pad for extending into an oil body in the journal box for transferring by capillarity oil from said oil body to said journal face, and means securable to a wall of the journal box for removably looking the opposite end of said rod against rotatable and swingable movement about said swingable and rotatable joint and for holding the rod substantially parallel to the axis of the journal and spaced from the arcuate face thereof.

5. A lubricating device for a railroad car journal of the type wherein the journal extends into a journal box in the bottom of which a body of lubricating oil is carried, said lubricating device comprising a supporting rod positionable in said journal box, a substantially universal joint for connecting one end of said rod and an inner wall of the journal box whereby said rod may be swung with its free end in alignment with an opening provided in the journal box, a resilient arm slidably but non-rotatably carried by said rod, said arm being engageable and disengageable over the free end of said rod through the opening in said journal box, absorbent pad means carried by said arm and adapted to be held by said arm in resilient contact with the face of the journal, a tail portion upon said pad for extending into said oil body for transferring by capillarity oil from said oil body to said journal face, and means securable to a wall of the journal box for removably locking the opposite end of said rod against rotatable and swingable movement about said substantially universal joint.

6. A car journal lubricator, comprising a supporting rod positionable in a journal box, a substantially universal joint for connecting one end of said rod and an inner wall of the journal box whereby said rod may be disposed in alignment with an opening provided in the journal box, a resilient arm slidably but non-rotatably carried by said rod, said arm being engageable and disengageable with said rod through an opening in said journal box, absorbent pad means carried by said arm and adapted to be held by said arm in resilient contact with the face of the journal, a tail portion upon said pad for extending into an oil body carried in said journal box for trans ferring by capillarity oil from said oil body to said journal face, and means securable to a wall of the journal box for removably locking the opposite end of said rod against rotatable and swingable movement about said universal joint and for holding the rod substantially arallel to the axis of the journal and spaced from the arcuate face thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,095,257 Kendall Oct. 12, 1937 2,218,315 Jones Oct. 15, 1940 

